Người cha và người mẹ

In a small house in the countryside, the sounds of children's laughter echoed through the afternoon. The mother busied herself in the kitchen, occasionally rushing out to wipe the sweat from a little one's face and spoon-feed them a few bites of rice. "Eat up, dear, be good," she would coo. The child would giggle between bites, then run off to play, accidentally knocking over the bowl of rice. The mother would quickly pick it up without a word of scolding.

The father sat at the table, eating his soup, his eyes still watching. He said nothing, only glancing at the children from time to time. When he saw his eldest son trip and fall, the mother rushed over to embrace and help him up, asking, "Where does it hurt, my love?" She then tapped the table, saying, "It's this naughty table's fault, let's hit it." The father remained seated, only saying, "Stand up, son. Stand up on your own." The child looked at his father, then struggled to his feet, wiping away his tears.

The mother showed her love outwardly, always with embraces, caresses, and feeding. The father, however, loved in a different way. He was training them, with the goal that his children should grow into capable people, able to stand firm amidst the storms of life, to succeed, and even surpass him. That is true love. True love is thinking about the ultimate future goal, not merely expressing temporary emotions of the moment.

The true meaning of the story is that genuine love is not only about momentary affectionate gestures but also involves nurturing and guidance towards the long-term growth and success of those we love. This is a lesson about love imbued with wisdom and responsibility.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang.